Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-01-13
HeRolc JOHN RaILLER.


Career % . Recently Deceased Man Whe
Saved TAirty.Eixht People froA Drewnr
Ing.
The greatest experience q Miller'a
life occurred on the 10th of June. 1855.
VIXEN the steamer C. P. Griffith. with
4SO passengers on board. burned to the
waters edge in Lake Erie, off Will
lougbby. Nearly every soul on board
was ost ~ drowning. The Griffith,
was regular passenger steamer. ply
ing between Buffalo. Cleveland and
Detroit. A few days before the steamer
was lost she had been laid up fo- re-
pairs. and every portion of her had
been freshly painted. On the fatal
night she was coming up from Buffalo.
heavily laden. When off the ChagriE
river Ere was discovered in her hold.
Her captain ordered her headed toward
shore She struck the bar about half =
mile out, and slowly burned away.
The passengers plunged into the lake
and were drowned by hundreds. Miller
was taken to the spot in tug from this
city. He divcd almost continually for
three days. and recovered nearly three
hundred bodies. Miller could only be
induced to relate this incident occa-
siOnally. He often said that visions Of
the almost numberlcss dead lifted from
the waters would sometimes come be-
fore his eyes and make his life misera-
BILE. On the 9Th of August, 1881. the
Cleveland BOARD of Trade presented
Miller with a valuable gold medal in
recognition of his valor. Mayor Gard
ner offered the resolution, which was
adopted unanimously. Miller was much
overcome by this act of courtesy. and
wore the medal on the lapel of his coat
ever afterward. The day before the
presentation Miller rescued man who
was capsizcd in boat near Verm:lliOn.
Miller was near by when the boat went
over. He plunged into the water and
made straight for the victim. who could
not swim stroke. The terrified man
seized Miller by the arm with DEATH
like grip. Both were still under water
and both seemed likely to drown. The
old diver gave the man terrible blow
in the stomach which caused him to re-
lax his hold. He then seized him by the
hair and swan ashore. Five or six years
ago Paul Boynton came to Cleveland
to give an exhibition of his ability to
dispOrt himself in the water. Miller
asked permission to accompany the
party that was to go out in the boat
with Boynton. and he was allowed to
go. A heavy sea was on, and BOynton's
were only partly success
full. Miller, however, gave Il startling
He dived from the Wheel
house of the steamer and came up calm
and collected on the other side of the
ship. He sprang into the white caps.
Law on his back in the water, remained
under water until almost everyone
thought him dead. and did many other
almost impossible feats to the great de-
light of everybody. In November, 1875, =
little girl fell into the river from Central
Way bridge. Miller was sent for. but
did not reach the spot for over four
minutes. The little one had gone down
for the third time, but Miller rescued
her and restored her to consciousness.
On one occasion. while the old diver
was at Put in Bay lady let cluster
pin. worth 500. fall into the
lake where the water was about cigh-
teen feet deep. Miller went to the bot
tom a half dozen times, but finally re-
covered the treasure. and was rewarded
with o new hundred dollar bill. On
July Is, 1855. the scow Louise. of De-
troit. went aground and capsized in y
fierce gale. just outside the harbor. All
of the crew came Ashore save woman
named Jane Brown, who was left
the ropes. The lake was
fri .htfully rough. but Miller went ont
to the ship in u tug. got line to the
scow. and tOwcd her into deep water.
Then he swan to the scOw and rescued
the woman. Two or three years ago,
when several disasters occurred at Put
in Bay. Miller asked the local authors
lies if it would not be we'll for him to
20 to that island during the excursion
season and do what good he could. He
vas persuaded not to go. but the vol
lntary proposition illustrates his kind
hess of heart and his generous nature.
For forty years he lived close by the
liver and lake. where his services could
De procured on very short notice. Of
he thirty-cight persons he has saved
rom drowning nearly all have been
of Cleveland. Many fathers
md mothers and many husbands and
wives have gladly acknowledg ID that
he debt of gratitude due the old diver
vas greater than could ever be paid
riece,u,,l Le1.{er.